Lock-socket for electric-light bulbs.



C. F. DWYER.

LOCK socxn FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT BULBS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- l5| 1914.

1 1 87,053 Patented June 13, 1916.

Eivwaulioz Y 3 l W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

/ CORNELIOUS F. DWYER, F ASHLAND, WEST VIRGINIA.

LOCK-SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC-LIGHT. BULBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented June 13, 1916.

Application filed September 15, 1914. Serial No. 861,844.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CoRNELIoUs F. DWYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashland, in the county of McDowell and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Look- Sockets for Electric-Light Bulbs, of Which vices of the general character of mine have v been heretofore invented, but to the extent ofmy'knowledge all of these devices employ a key member for locking the bulb within the socket. Inasmuch as it is not a diflicult matter to pick .a lock of the simple construction which must necessarily be applied to a lamp socket, it has been found in many instances that the bulb could be removed bypicking or breaking the lock.

The primary object, therefore, of my present invention is to provide a lamp socket in which the lamp may be securely locked without the aid of a key or any equivalent element, and from which the lamp may not be withdrawn until it is broken.

Another object of my invention is to construct the locking device with all due regard to simplicity, so that it may be cheaply manufactured and will be durable and eflicient in service. f Yr The above recited and other incidental objects of a similar nature, which will be hereinafter more specifically treated, are accom: plished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in theclaims, which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein there has-been illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention as it is reduced to spring; Fig. 2is a vertical section taken through the socket, showing a lamp engaged therein and disclosing the shield member in looking position; Fig. 3 is also a vertical section, disclosing particularly the lock spring which is carried by the shield and engages the socket for holding the shield against rotation; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken medially of the locking screw and locking spring.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention includes as its essential elements of construction a socket 10, a lock shield 11, a retaining screw 12, and a locking spring 14. The socket 10 is in general of standard construction, consisting as it does in a vulcanite or porcelain body within which is arranged a metallic sleeve 15 having threads which receive the threads of the lamp head 16. The wires 17 pass through the stem portion 18 of the socket and connect in the usual manner with the contact plate 19 and sleeve 15. The lower portion 20 of the socket is cylindrical and is of a diameter slightly less than the major diameter of the socket.

Approximately midway theheight of the socket is formed a circumferentially extending flange or hood member 21, which, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 3, extends in spaced relation to the face of the cylindrical portion 20 and defines in connection therewith an annular chamber. This annular chamber receives the upper edge portion of the lock shield 11, as will be best seen upon reference to Fig. 2. The shield member 11, which is preferably formed of sheet metal, is cylindrical at its upper portion and is of an internal diameter equal to the external diameter of the cylindrical portion 20 of the socket, so that it may snugly receive the portion 20. The lower portion of the shield is reduced, as at 22, and is provided with an external annular bead 23 which defines, as best shown in Fig. 2, an internal annular groove or channel. This channel is adapted to receive a portion of a gasket 24 which is formed of wool, leather, rubber, or any other material which may be found suitable.

In the upper 'portion of the shield is formed an aperture 25. A spring housing,

indicated at 26, is carried by the member 11 ber 14. The member 26, and consequently the spring 14, may be located at any portion of the member 11, except at a point diametrically opposite the aperture 25. The

, the insertion of a new lam spring 14 is preferably formed from a single.

length of wlre, which is bent to produce an eyelet, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower terminal of the spring may be soldered or otherwise secured to the member 11. A slot, indicated at 27, is, of 'course, formed in that portion of the member 11 which bridges thetherein. Briefly the operation is as follows:

The shield membertll is placed on the lamp,

the gasket 24 being engaged about the head member 16 at its junction with the glass bulb. The head member 16 is then threaded into the sleeve 15 of the socket, the sleeve 11 being engaged about the portion 20 of the socket. When the member 16 has been threaded into the socket such a distance as to engage its contact plate 29 with the member 19, the sleeve 11 is rotated to bring its aperture 25 intoregistration. with the radial bore 28 of the socket. The screw 12 is then inserted in the opening 25 and threaded into the bore 28 such a d stance as to cause its inner terminal to make a considerable indentation in the member 16. When the screw is thus applied, the lamp head 16 is, of course, held against rotation and cannot, therefore, be unthreaded from the member 15. After the screw 12 is properly applied, the shield 11 is rotated so as to engage the spring 14 in the vertical kerf 30 which is formed in the member 20. It is, of course,

apparent that, when the spring 14 is let into the kerf 30, the shield 11 is held against rotation on the member 20, and that as a consequence access may not be had to the screw 12 since the aperture 25 is no longer in registration with the same. which the kerf 30, radial bore 28," and the members 14 and 25 of the shield 11 may not.

bediametrically opposed will now be apparent. 'It'will be seen that, inasmuch as access may not be had to the screw 12 when the shield 11 is in locln'ng position, and that since the sleeve may not be pulled down from the socket in view of the engagement of the gasket 24 with the lamp bul it will be impossible to remove the 'lamp until the glass bulb thereof has been broken. Of

course, when the bulb of the lamp is broken,

the shield 11 may be readily pulled down from the socket and the screw 12 disengaged from the head member '16 so as to permit in the socket.

In reduction to practice, it has been found that the form of this invention illustrated The ,reason for in the drawings, and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment', is the most eflicient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of this device will necessarily vary, it is desirable to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, Wh required, without sacrificing any of the a vantages of thisinvention, as defined in' the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A lock socket for electric light bulbs including a socket proper divided lnteriorly with a threaded metallic sleeve to receive the threaded contact sleeve of the bulb head, a set-screw having threaded engagement with the wall of the socket for forced contact with the contact sleeve of the bulb to lock the latter against turning, a locking shield carried by the light bulb adjacent its head and fitting about that portion of the socket through which the set-screw is threaded; said locking shield having an opening adapted in one position to aline with the set-screw to permit application of the latter, and means for locking the shield in position with said opening out of alinement with the set-screw. v

2. A look socket for electric light bulbs including a socket proper provided interiorly with a threaded metallic sleeve to receive the threaded contact. sleeve of the bulb head, a set-screw having threaded engagement with the wall of the socket for forced contact with the contact sleeve of the bulb to lock the latter against turning, a shield carried by the light bulb adjacent its head and fitting about that portion of the socket through which the set screw is threaded, said shield having an opening adapted in one position to aline with the set-screw to permit application of the lat-- ter, and means carried by the shield and engaging the socket for securing the locking shield against turning movement when the opening therein is out of alinement with the set-screw.

3. A'lock socket for electric light bulbs including a socket proper internally threaded to receive the threaded terminal of a light bulb, a'set-screw threaded through the wall of the socket to lockingly engage in the threads of the head. of the light bulb,

15 including a locking spring 4; A lock socket for electric light bulbs including a socket proper internally threaded to receive the threaded terminal of the light .bulb, a set-screw threaded through the- 5 wall of the socket'to' lockingly enga ge 1n the threads of the head of the light bulb, an annular locking shield .adapted' to be positioned about the lower portion of the socket and about the light bulb adjacent its head, said locking shield having in o ing adapted in one position of the shield to aline with the set-screw, and means for locking the shield against turning move-' ment when turned to another position, said means includinga locking interiorly of the shield and aseat formed in the outer ace of the socket proper, engagement between the and its seatbeing such that the can be withdrawn only by movement '51) i of the locking shield awa from the socket.

6. The combination wit an electric lamp .socket, and a bulb seated therein, of a lockspring carried geable in ing member'mounted in the socket and engaging the shell of the bulb to prevent movement of the same, a shield carried by the bulb and fitting around the socket to prevent access to the locking member mounted therein, and an internal locking including a socket proper internally threaded to" receive the threaded terminal of a light bu1b,-a set-screw threaded through the the socket to prevent rotation of the shield.

In testimony whereof I aflix my' signaviallfifetggofsockethtltollocf' lylll: tureinprwenceoftwowitnesses. tet,a' eeaote't 5 an annular locking shield adapted to be ammo mull 5 7 itn:

"positioned about the lower portion of the p socket and about the light bulb adjacent i Jnss1*-,D.Dmr,

A. EARLY.

its head, said locking shield having an open member carried by the shield and engaging V 

